Julia Uitz

Peng Wang

Timothy Wynne

Why Ocean Observatories?

Major advances in our understanding of the oceans are currently limited by our
ability to make sustained observations over large areas. Continuous, long-term
measurements of physical, chemical, geological, and biological variables in the
oceans and the seafl oor below are required to understand trends and cyclic changes
and to capture episodic events such as major earthquakes and harmful algal blooms.
Enhanced capabilities for making sustained measurements of the ocean will open
up new research opportunities and lead to improved detection and forecasting of
environmental changes and their effects on biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, and
climate. These advances will provide the tools for improved management of ocean
resources such as fisheries, and better-informed decisions on the use of the coastal
zone for recreation, development, and commerce. (Ocean Observatories Initiaitive, 2003)

Biogeochemical Processes, Proxies, and Measurements

Process Component

Proxy

Optical Proxy /

Measurement

Light

Irradiance

Irradiance
sensors

Biomass

Chlorophyll,

Fluorescence

Fluorometer,

Spectral
fluorometer

Nutrients

Nitrates

Nitrate
sensor

Physiology

Absorption,
Attenuation

Oxygen

a, c

O2
sensor

Temperature

Temperature

CTD

Mixing

T, S, s,
depth

CTD

Composition

Particle size,
composition

Beam-cp

Scattering:
bbp, bp,bbp/bp

A wide range of laboratory and in-situ instrumention is used to study real ocean processes via biogeochemical proxies.

The Class Dock Observatory was set up to monitor conditions in the Damariscotta River at the Darling Marine Center. Data is being uploaded in real time or you can look through archived data - check it out!

Biogeochemical Observations

Data collected at the Ocean Optics Class Dock Observatory is now here!!! The Class Dock Observatory was set up to monitor conditions in the Damariscotta River at the Darling Marine Center. The CDO is curently outfitted with a Wetlabs BB2F which measures chlorophyll fluorescence and optical backscatter at two wavelengths. Data is being uploaded in real time or you can look through archived data - check it out!

The Perry Phytoplankton and Optics Lab at the Darling Marine Center also monitors conditions at the Class Dock Observatory. See their dock sampling program for more information about the area including chlorophyll concentrations, phytoplankton community composition and photosynethetically available radiation (PAR) data.